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A. BLU'M.

TOY. No. 563,354. ented July 7, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST BLUM, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,354, dated July 7,1896.

Application filed January 16, 1896. Serial No. 576,752. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUs'r BLUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at J acksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida,have invented a new and useful Toy, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to toys of the class known as mechanical, wherein afigure having movable parts is employed, motion being communicatedthereto by the operation of rotary members adapted totraverse a surface,such as a floor; and the object in view is to provide a simpleconstruction and arrangement of devices whereby when the toy is in usethe figure is held in an/ approximately upright position, and when notin use the figure may be folded into a position in which the toyoccupies the minimum space.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy constructed inaccordance with my invention, the figure being shown in the upright oroperative position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same with the figure inthe folded position.

responding parts in all the figures of the drawin gs.

1 designates a frame comprising a cross-bar 2, forwardly-extending sidebars 3, and a handle 4. The side arms of this yoke-shaped frameterminate in inturned spindles 5, upon which are mounted the rotarymembers or wheels 6, whereby said rotary members or wheels are betweenthe planes of the side arms.

The figure illustrated in the drawings is that of a man having a bodyportion 7 and jointed legs 8, each leg consisting of upper and lowermembers 9 and 10, of which the upper extremities of the upper membersare pivotally connected to the body portion, as at 11, while the lowerextremities of the lower members are pivotally connected toinwardly-extending projections or blocks 12 on the rotary members orwheels, said projections or blocks 12 extending inwardly a distance inexcess of the inner ends of the hubs of the rotary mem- Fig. 3 is a planview of the frame. Similar numerals of reference indicate cor-' bers orwheelsavhereby clearance is provided between the lower members of thelegs of the figure and the extremities of the hubs.

The means which I employ for holding the figure in an upright positionwhen in use consist of a supporting rod or link 13, which is connectedat one end to the frame in rear of the axes of the wheels and at theother end to the figure, and in the construction illustrated saidextremities of the supporting rod or link are connected, respectively,to the frame and the figure by means of interlocking or hinged eyes 14and staples 15.

When in use, the figure is arranged in a position above the axes of thewheels and slightly inclined forward, the forward inclination beinglimited by the supporting rod or link, and when the toy is not in usethe figure may be folded back upon the handle, as shown in Fig. 2.

In operation the rotation of the wheels causes a movement of the legs ofthe figure similar to that of a person walking or runniug or jumping,and inasmuch as the wheels are independently mounted, and hence arecapable of independent rotation, the pivotal points of the lowerextremities of the legs 1 may be arranged in any desired relativeposition to vary the gait 'of the figure. The loose connection betweenthe frame and the figure, consisting of the rod or link above described, allows sufficient vibration of the body of the figure tocorrespond with the movement of the body of a person either walking orjumping, as described.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is' 1. A mechanical toyhaving a frame, independently movable rotary members or wheels mountedupon the frame, a figure having a body portion arranged above the planeof the frame, and pivotal parts, as legs, connected eccentrically to therotary members or wheels, and a loose supporting device connecting thebody portion of the figure to the frame to limit the forward and allowfree rearward movement of said body portion whereby the IOC figure isheld in an upright position by gravity when the frame is inclinedforward, substantially as specified.

2. In a mechanical toy, the combination of a frame having rotary membersor wheels disposed in contiguous planes with an unobstructed interveningspace, a figure having jointed leg portions pivotally connectedeccentrically to the rotary members or wheels and operating in saidintervening space, and a loose connection between the body portion ofthe figure and the frame, whereby said figure may be arranged either inan upright or a folded position, substantially as specified.

3. A mechanical toy having a frame provided with rotary members orwheels, a figure having jointed leg portions pivotally connectedeccentrically to the rotary members or wheels, and a loose connectionbetween the frame and the figure consisting of a supporting rod or linkloosely connected at its extremities, respectively, to the frame and thefigure, whereby the figure may be arranged in either an upright or areclining position approximately parallel with the frame, substantiallyas specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST BLUM. Witnesses:

W. H. J EAGLE, O. J. GRANT.

